Refinery fitting



June 25,1935. c, BARBISQN I 2,006,084

REFINERY FITTING 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 :11 4 l I 2 I v 31 I HUGH/m Ci/arenC'E b JM/ June 25, 1935. c. a. HARBISON REFINERY FITTING Filed Jan. 15, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 2 5, I935 UNITED STATES anrmuar rrrrmo Clarence B. Harbison, Lima, Ohio, assignor? to The Ohio Steel Foundry Company, Lima, Ohio,

a corporationoi Ohio Application January 13, 1934, Serial No. 706,464

6 Claims. (01. 285-20) This invention relates to improvements in return bend fittings especially adapted for use in oil refinery stills, and. has for its principal object to provide an improved and simplified construction including a minimum number of parts, wherein the tubes may be directly locked to their respective housings, and said housings may be detacha-- bly connected together so that said tubes may be restrained from turning and be maintained in alignment with each other during the usual cleaning operation. I

In'carrying out my invention, I provide means for detachably connecting the tubes to'their respective return bend fittings by means of interlocking lugs which operate by'relative rotation of the return bend housings and the tubes somewhat on the principle of a bayonet joint. It will be understood that in an oil refinery still the return bend fittings are too closely nested together to permit rotation of the entire housing. Furthermore, the tubes are rigidly locked to other communicating return bend fittings at the opposite side of the still. I therefore provide a pair of detachable separate housing parts for each tube, and each pair of housing parts can be readily rotated independently of each other while being locked on their respective tube ends. Said housing parts can then be secured together and the tubes locked therein from rotation relative to said housing parts, thus resisting rotation or twisting of the tubes while they are being cleaned by the usual reaming or boring operation.

The invention ma}, best be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of a return bend fitting constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig.2 is a top plan view of the fitting shown in Fig. 1, with a part thereof shown in section taken on lines 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a detail view in perspective of one of the tube housings.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of one of the housing sections shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a detail view in perspective of one of the tube ends.

Fig. 6 is a detail view of the filler block adapted to form part of the connection between the tube housings.

Fig. 7 is a detail view of the key used to restrain rotation of the tubes in their respective housing sections.

Referring now to details of the embodiment of my invention illustrated in the drawings, it will be observed that the two tubes 9 and ID are each connected at adjacent ends to annular members H and I2, respectively, forming mutually detachable portions of a housing for a U-bend member I3 of the usual form. Each of said annular members has a pair of upright extensions I5,

having suitable locking means at their upper ends for holding the adjacent end of the U-bend member in pressure-tight engagement with the end of its respective tube. In the form shown, the locking means consists of set lock blocks I6, it,

each having arms I1, I! fitting in apertures l8, l8

in said upright extensions, and set lock screws l9, l9 engageable with the U-bend inalignment with its respective tube, all as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Referring now to the means for locking the tubes to their respective annular housing portions, the construction is best illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 which show one tube and housing part before assembly, and in Fig. 1 in which both tubes are in assembled or locked position in their housing parts.

Each tube, as shown in Fig. 5, is provided with a plurality of radially extending locking lugs 20, spaced about its periphery adjacent its outer end. Each housing part, as shown in Fig. 6, is provided with a tube aperture consisting of a reduced bore 2| at its upper end adapted to permit the upper end of said tube to pass therethrough with said lugs 20, 20 bearing against the shoulder 2|, an enlarged intermediate bore 22 of suflicient diameter and length to accommodate the lugs 20, 20 of the tube therein, and a plurality of inwardly extending lugs 23, 23'arranged below the intermediate bore 22 and spaced apart by recesses 24, 24 so as to permit the tube and locking lugs 20, 20 to be inserted from below the housing part and be locked therein by partial relative rotation of the parts in the manner of a bayonet joint or a breech block connection.

After being thus seated, each of the tubes s. and I0 are restrained from rotation in their respective annular portions II and I2 by a key adapted tent in a slot 3| formed in one of the lugs 20, and suitably secured to the annular housing as by a cap-screw 32.

The housing parts H and I2 are connected together by means of similar lugs 25 and. 26, respectively, arranged to register with each other on adjacent sides when said housings are in longitudinal alignment with each other as seen in Figs. 1 and 2. A filler block 21 is arranged to fit in interlocking engagement between vertically disposed grooves 25 and 26 formed in scope of my invention as defined in the appended the opposed faces of said lugs, as shown. A bolt 28 is fitted through said lugs and said filler block to hold the parts securely together, especially against relative rotation of the housing parts II and i2.

With the filler block construction just described, it will be observed that a substantial clearance is provided between the connecting lugs 25 and 26, so that the two annular members can readily be rotated on their respective tubes between said lugs. Without such clearance, the lugs are lukely to interfere with each other, because the axes of the two tubes are normally spaced too close to each other to assure free rotation of said parts without such clearance. After the housing parts are locked on their tubes, however, the spacer block with rectangular faces is interlocked between the grooves 25 and 28 of the lugs, so as to provide a firm, non-rotating joint between the parts for the purpose described.

The operation and advantages of my improved form of return bend fitting will now be .understood from the following description:

With the tube ends \projecting in fixed position from the still unit, each of the 'annular housing members is assembled individually upon its .respective tube end by registering the recesses 24 with the locking lugs "20, 20 of the tube, thus permitting the latter lugs to enter the enlarged bore 22, with the lugs 20 hearing against the shoulder 2|. The housing member is then partially rotated so as to lock the parts together in a manner similar to the action of a bayonet joint or breech block connection, it being noted that in locked position the connecting lug 25 (or 26) is arranged in alignment with the companion annular housing. When both housing members have 'thus been mounted on their respective tubes, the filler block 21 is fitted in the groves between the opposed connecting lugs 25 and 28, and'the parts are securely bolted together. The keys 30 are also'applied to restrain the tubes from rotation in their respective annular portions. The U-bend is also applied and locked in place in the usual manner.

For the tube cleaning operation, the U-bend is removed to permit insertion of thecleaning tool in the tubes. When the U-bend is thus removed, it will be observed that the tubes remain I securely locked in the housing, the tubes being restrained against twisting in their respective annular portions by means of the keys 30, and theannular portions being rigidly secured together so that each tube is braced against turning by ,the other tube while it is being bored out.

The improved form of fitting permits easy removal of either or both housing members without interfering with adjacent fittings, and also makes it possible to remove and replace any tube from the still without cutting the tube, as is often necesary where other methods of. connect ing the tubes to the housings are employed. All parts of the fitting are simple and relatively inexpensive; the duplicate parts are fully interchangeable and the entire fitting is strong, durable and easily assembled or disassembled for replacement, repair or cleaning.

' Although I have illustrated and described one particular embodiment of myinvention, it will be understood that I do not wish to be limited to the exact construction shown and described, but that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and claims.

1. In a return bend fitting, two housing parts each having an annular base, a pair of tubes each having one end extending through one of said bases and detachably securable therein by a bayonet joint, said bases being rotatable with respect to each other while in normal spaced relation on their respective tubes, but having means detachably connecting said housing parts together, a U-bend, and means carried by said housing parts for securing said U-bend in pressure-tight engagement with said tube ends.

2. In a return bend fitting, two housing parts each having an annular base, a pair of tubes each having one end extending through one of said bases and detachably securable therein by a bayonet joint, said bases being rotatable with respect to each other while in normal speced relation on their respective tubes, butlhaving means rigidly connecting said housing parts together, a U-bend, means carried by said housing parts for securing said U-bend in pressure-tight engagement with said tube ends, and means for restraining said tubes fr dm 'rotation relative to their respective annular bases.

3. In combination with a pair of parallel tubes each having a: plurality of integral radially extending locking lugs adjacent its outer end, a return bend fitting comprising two housing parts each havingan'annular base provided with cooperative locking lugs having interlocking connection with the locking lugs on its respective tube by relative rotation of said housing part and tube, said bases being rotatable with respect to each other while in normal spaced relation on their respective tubes, but having means detachably connecting said housing parts together, a U-bend adapted to span said tube ends, and means carried by said'housing parts for securing said U-bend in pressure-tight engagement with said tube ends.

4. In combination with a pair of parallel tubes each having a plurality of integral radially extending locking lugs adjacent its outer end, a return bend fitting comprising two housing parts each having an annular base provided with cooperating locking lugs having interlocking connection with the locking lugs on its respective tube by relative rotation of said housing part and tube, means for restraining said tubes from rotation relative to their respective annular bases, said bases being rotatable with respect to each other while in normal spaced relation on their respective tubes, but having means detachably connecting said housing parts together in rigid non-rotative relation,-a U-bend adapted to span said tube ends, and means carried by said housing parts for securing said U-bend in pressure-tight engagement with said tube ends.

5. In combination with a pair of parallel tubes each having a plurality of integral radially extending locking lugs adjacent its outer end, a return bend fitting comprising two housing parts, each having an annular base provided with a restricted portion forming a downwardly racing shoulder, and inwardly extending locking lugs spaced from said shoulder permitting the lugs on said tube to pass upwardly and be locked in bearing engagement against said shoulder by relative rotation of said housing part and tube, said bases being rotatable with respect to each other while in normal spaced relation on their respective tubes, but having means detachably connecting said housing parts together, a U-bend adapted to span said tube ends, and means carried by said housing parts for securing said U- bend in pressure-tight amazement with said tube ends.

6. In combination with a pair of parallel tubes, a return bend fitting comprising a U-bend adapted to form a connecting passage between the ends of said tubes, two housing parts each detachably secured in its respective tube by relative rotation and having means for holding the adjacent end ot said U-bend in engagement with its respective tube, and means for detachably connecting said housing parts together comprising projecting lugs integral with .each of said housing parts, and normally spaced apart to provide clearance therebetween during rotation of said housing parts, andmeans detachably connecting said lugs together including a filler block having interlocking engagement between said lugs to resist rotation of said housing parts relative to each other. v CLARENCE B. HARBISON. 

